The Aftermath

Full Disclosure: I cannot vote. I can almost vote, but I had to pass the polls regretfully five times yesterday.

The work of many Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents all came down to yesterday. And there is still much work to be done – like in Alaska, with 40.2% of the vote consisting of write ins. Overall, the election is a mixed bag – the Democrats will keep control of the Senate, but will lose the House. However, I still think the President can and should work with the Republicans – the losses in the midterms reflect both bad public relations and weak bipartisanship.

One of the greatest losses in this election, I believe, is Senator Blanche Lincoln. More and more, both Democrats and Republicans tend to go to the extremes of their party: case in point, Christine O’Donnell, Sharron Angle (the Republicans more so… I can’t think of an extreme Democrat.) The moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats are disappearing – fast. Senator Lincoln was a valuable asset in the Senate for us fiscally conservative and socially liberal voters. Alongside Senators Snowe, Collins, and Specter, she was a voice of reason between two sides of vacillating power. I regret her loss.

Surprisingly, I’m not that downtrodden. My school levy passed, and I believe local politics are just as critical as national politics. I’m excited for the time when I can vote. If elections are this exciting when I can’t vote, what will they be like when I can?